On June 10, Pope Benedict XVI held forth on HIV for the first time since inheriting the hat. “Traditional teaching of the church [abstinence] has proven the only fail-safe way to prevent the spread of HIV,” he said, quashing hope of a condom miracle at the Vatican.

Across the Mediterranean, a Libyan court on May 28 postponed the death sentences of six Bulgarian and Palestinian medics who allegedly infected 400 kids with HIV. (Poor medical facilities are the near-certain cause.) Libyan head Muammar Qaddafi was quoted as asking, “How can we free the murderers of children?” Easy answer to both leaders: Tell the truth.